The UPerfect UColor O Lite is a 13.3-inch 4K OLED portable monitor with one cable power and display, a few ports for those who may need them, and the ability to be slightly modified to make a massive difference.
I’ve reviewed plenty of the best portable monitors. I have one or two tucked away in just about every single one of my workspaces. And after testing out this particular model, it's earned a place on my tech cart where I run Systems and IT.
This display is spectacular for those niche workspaces - it's touted by UPerfect as a portable monitor for MacBooks thanks to the high resolutions and and 109% DCI-P3 color coverage. And I get that.
I will say, a 13-inch screen may not be the best for your primary display at your workstation, as it’s the same size as most smaller laptops out there, but for secondary screens or those unique spots, I found the UColor O Lite fits the bill beautifully.
UPerfect UColor O Lite: Price and availability(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )This monitor is usually sold for around $330 / £247 direct from UPerfect - although at the time of review, it's discounted to $280 / £209. It comes with the basic cables you need, and a little folio case that doubles as a kickstand. So, a neat all-in-package.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )UPerfect UColor O Lite: Unboxing and First ImpressionsRight out of the gate, this monitor shows off its thinness and portability. It’s lightweight on purpose. Its best use case is a single USB-C to your device. Simple, easy. But there is the flexibility to run a full-size HDMI to a display, or to plug in another USB-C device in a pinch.
I paired this monitor with the Rolling Square Edge Pro - although I suspect any strong mag-lock will be suitable. This little magnetic hinge has made this monitor 10x more valuable in my arsenal. Since it’s so lightweight, these magnetic brackets can hold the portable display on the side of a standard display, hanging from a door frame, mount on the side of a metal cart, mount to the side of a laptop if you want to, or just free-stand at any angle you desire. It unlocks a whole new tier of usability.
UPerfect UColor O Lite: Design & Build Quality(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Like all good portable monitors, this one is thin and light. It feels like an iPad when you hold it, without Apple's premium build. However, it still feels like it’s a quality display.
Then, you turn it on and realize it’s actually a pretty solid display after all, putting out a good amount of brightness, brilliant colors and 4K resolution, all in a tiny little package. I test a lot of monitors, and I fully expected it to be average across the board. This panel proved me wrong.
It has enough ports to do what it needs to do, it crammed in a full-size, all-grown-up, standard HDMI, and it still managed to stay as small as it is. This is the panel that once you start looking, you’ll be able to find a dozen little ways you could use it.
UPerfect UColor O Lite: In use(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )SpecsPanel: 13.3-inch 4K OLED, 3840 × 2160, 16:9
Color & contrast: 109% DCI-P3, 100,000:1 contrast, HDR support
Brightness: up to ~390–500 nits (manufacturer rating)
Response time: 1 ms
Viewing angle: 178°
Ports: 2 × full-featured USB-C (audio + video) 1 × mini HDMI (audio + video), 1 × USB-A OTG, 1 × 3.5 mm audio out
Audio: dual 1 W stereo speakers
Build: aluminum chassis, ultra-thin 3–8 mm body, narrow bezels
Weight: 0.47 kg (1.03 lb)
Mounting: 75 × 75 mm VESA
I've been running the UColor O Lite typically plugged into a Mac mini that I use as a server. This gives me quick access to pop in, control from my phone, and see what I am doing on a bigger screen, or to use a mouse and keyboard.
When not in use, it is mounted on the cart using the previously mentioned magnets. I can pop it off with one tug and use it with my MacBook, another Mac mini, whatever laptop I am testing at the time, or with any number of other devices I may need to test and fix. When I need a little more screen real estate for a big project at my desk, I have a mounting plate on my Dell monitor, so I pop this display over there and immediately add another display to my setup. For quick meetings where I need to showcase something, I can bring this display for whoever is in the meeting.
When I am testing a Mac mini for issues, I can plug right in; the same goes for old laptops, old servers, and Apple TVs. My creative team can even pull this display if needed as a camera output for a photo shoot, or I could use it for digital signage in a pinch. It’s the perfect little display to have on hand for so many things if you’re in that kind of work.
So, it's had a pretty thorough work-out for a portable monitor. I’ve used this display for over 100 days, and I have had absolutely zero issues with it. No qualms, no disappointments. For those who need a little display for anything, this is it.
During this 100+ day stretch, I’ve pushed this display with Mac, Windows, iPads, Cameras, Servers, AppleTV, Switch, iPhone, a PlayStation, an XBOX, and a Nex Playground system. I even used this display for a quick test to make sure that my Eufy POE NVR camera system I was installing for a client was working before tucking the brain away.
In short, if you are the kind of person who does a lot, works in tech, may use a portable display, or just have a lot of gadgets around you or in your life, then you should check out this portable monitor. Don’t just think of it as a portable monitor; think of it as a 13-inch Swiss Army Knife that can do just about anything you may need it to do.
For those who are working out of a backpack, have a lot of portable meetings, work from a coffee shop or maybe just not a dedicated office, this can add to the power of an office in a backpack
UPerfect UColor O Lite: Final verdict(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )The UColor O Lite 13-inch display is a spectacular little device that can truly do just about anything you may need a display output for. It’s got a great panel, a beautiful OLED, with a wide color coverage and a high resolution (even if you don't really need 4K on a screen this small).
Beyond the great display, I really liked the hyper-portability. It's thin, light, and perfect for business travel or carrying around the office - which is how I use it. And yes, the screen may be too small for some users, but there are plenty of 15- and 16-inch portable displays out there. At the 13-inch mark, this is one of the best.
Image 1 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 2 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 3 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 4 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 5 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 6 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 7 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 8 of 8(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )For more options, we've tested the best business monitors.
The Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is a unique power station in my army of different options.
It's got a sleek, perhaps even beautiful style - a design that separates it from the best portable power stations I've tested. It proved reliable during my time using it, I appreciated the 1.5kWh capacity And I like the port selection here.
However, what really lets it down is the app. It's difficult to navigate, and I'm hoping that a future update will sort out the issues I experienced, because beyond that, there's a lot to like about this power station.
Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: Price and availability(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )The Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is available for $ 1549 on their website; however, at the time of writing, it is on sale for $1199. It's also available on Amazon.com, with the base model costing $1299, but also variants bundled with solar panels or the cart.
For those who want the whole experience, make sure you pick up the portable solar panel and IQ Cart as well. While not vital, both add an extra little bit to the PowerPack 1500.
(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: Unboxing and First ImpressionsI've unboxed a lot of power stations. This one was the first to have the box-opening stand out. In a pleasing Apple-esque fashion, the boxes open up, lifting the front panel almost like a Tesla Model X gullwing door. Once open, I can grab out the power station, cables, and documentation, lifting easily out of the front and top of the box rather than just the top.
Upon my first inspection, this unit appears to follow Apple's design language. It has rounded edges, handles that look like Apple could have designed them, a simple yet functional front screen, and functional port covers that can be popped off when helpful.
The box includes the unit, some power cables, and basic documentation. Grabbing the app, installing, and connecting was easy too. After the initial setup, I found the app pretty clunky, but more on that later.
Right off the bat, this power station looked well-equipped to handle what I may throw at it. The interface is a touchscreen, which is unique for the power stations I usually work with, which use a button-first design. Further, the port coverings, handle, and build quality make this feel like a professional-grade power station, not just something you'd bring with you on a camping trip for a few nights of phone charging.
One more nice touch is that this unit has a proximity sensor, so when you get close, a faint light comes on. Small, but it's a nice touch that adds to this unit's premium feel.
Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: Design & Build Quality(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )The IQ PowerPack 1500 is rugged, yet refined. It's built for indoor or outdoor use, and functions well in both environments, though I wouldn't want to keep this out in the rain or freezing weather. The handles are comfortable and make transporting significantly easier.
But, if you want an even easier time toting this hefty piece of kit around, Enphase has an optional cart accessory that the IQ PowerPack 1500 clips into. Sadly, there are no stacking units, but the cart is nice if you are older, have a bad back, don't want to tote it around in your hands, or enjoy an easy way to carry it.
One more thing I will mention about the design is that, in a moment of curiosity getting the better of me, the power port covers pop off super easily and pop back on just as easily. I don't know if this is a feature or just a happy accident, but if you have ports you don't want covered, popping off the rubber flip-down covers is super easy.
Lastly, for those who do plan to run the IQ PowerPack 1500 on a job site, as a battery backup, or in a place they are not going to be, the IQ PowerPack 1500 has both LTE and Wi-Fi, allowing you to stay connected even when you're away.
Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: In use(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )SpecsPorts: 4 × AC 120 V, 1 × USB-C PD 100 W, 4 × USB-A, 1 × 12v car port, 1 × 12 V DC port
Weight: 55.7lbs (with packaging)
Capacity: 1.5kWh
Dimensions: 16.5x9.3x13.7 inches
I have had this in my arsenal of portable power solutions for 104 days now, and in that time, I have gotten several opportunities to get quite a bit out of it. I used this to run a leaf mulcher in my yard for several hours at a time, recharge my drills, test Christmas lights, charge up some review gear, and more.
For the leaf mulcher, I was able to get 5 hours of mulching without going below 50% of my battery, if I remember correctly. I placed the power station in a good central spot and then went to town, mulching as much as I could reach.
For a few months, while I was handling some installation jobs for my business, I kept the Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 in the back of my Jeep. I used it to recharge my drills, my Hoto Electric Screwdrivers, some lights I was using on the job, and I even used it to test power to some gear before installing it in a hard-to-reach area.
Using the physical unit itself is a great experience. No complaints. The UI is easy, the buttons are sleek. The touchscreen is responsive, and the whole experience makes sense.
The software side of things, on the other hand, is where my frustration kicks in. The software, in my experience is lacking considerably. It's clunky, has only one particular use in mind, not the general pro-user, and it works, but in an odd way.
While the Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is so much more, keep in mind it can also serve as a UPS, providing reliable power to essential devices if the power goes out.
Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500: Final verdict(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )All in all, the Enphase IQ PowerPack 1500 is a beautiful unit that is severly hamstringed by it's software, though the software is what can be modified with a simple push update in the future. This power station has LTE, Wi-Fi, fast charging, LFP Cells and a great build, making it a spectacular pro-level option for those who need power on a job site, or somewhere that is not with them at all times.
Image 1 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 2 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 3 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 4 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 5 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 6 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 7 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 8 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 9 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 10 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 11 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 12 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 13 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 14 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 15 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 16 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 17 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 18 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 19 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )Image 20 of 20(Image credit: Collin Probst // Future )The Trump administration launched military strikes in Syria to "eliminate" Islamic State group fighters in retaliation for an attack that killed two U.S. troops and an American interpreter a week ago.
(Image credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson)